DriveSavers can now recover data from locked smartphones for a mere $3,900

Image via Apple

DriveSavers, one of the world's leading data recovery companies, now offers a service for unlocking smartphones and tablets that have a locked passcode, including iPhones and iPads. DriveSavers claims to be the only company that offers this level of device unlocking and data recovery outside of law enforcement, but the service costs a staggering US$3900.

Data loss is never good. When storage media fails and takes everything with it, there’s very little you can do to recover it outside of professional help. However, what may be more frustrating is losing data because you forgot the passcode to your smartphone. DriveSavers, one of the most popular data recovery companies in the world, may have your back… as long as you have about US$3900 to spare.

DriveSavers now offers a consumer-grade service for unlocking smart devices, including Android handsets, iPhones, and iPads. Touting a new “proprietary technology,” DriveSavers is one of the only organizations outside of law enforcement that has the ability to bypass an iOS device’s lock code and get access to the data inside.

DriveSavers says that they are the only company that offers a consumer-facing solution like this. There are a few hoops to jump through, though. Before they’ll unlock your device, DriveSavers undergoes a rigorous battery of tests to prove that you are the legitimate owner of the locked smartphone or tablet. This process varies from customer to customer, but a common thread involves a scrupulous review of intake information when you sign up and other legal avenues to verify ownership. This may include providing a death certificate if the device belonged to a deceased loved one, receipts of purchase, or other information.

Then there’s the fee. While DriveSavers doesn’t list a fee for this service on their website, and while prices will likely vary case to case, DriveSavers told MacRumors that it estimates the cost of the unlocking service to be around US$3900. Since they are the only one providing this service to consumers, and since they claim to have a 100% success rate, DriveSavers can charge whatever they want at this point.

Still, if you have a locked iPhone and you really need to get something off of it, DriveSavers is the only company that can get that phone’s data. At least until the next iOS update.

I've been a "tech-head" my entire life. After graduating college with a degree in Mathematics, I worked in finance and banking a few years before taking a job as a Systems Analyst for my local school district. I started working with Notebookcheck in October of 2016 and have enjoyed writing news articles and notebook reviews. My areas of interest include the business side of technology, retro gaming, Linux, and innovative gadgets. When I'm not hunched over an electronic device or writing code for a new database, I'm either outside with my family, playing a decade-old video game, or sitting behind a drum set.